Fonterra’s $200m loss explained: Why our biggest company is in the red

Milk is practically white gold, right? Turns out not so much, with Fonterra announcing a huge loss for the year. Business editor Maria Slade explains why our biggest dairy company has lost so much money. Has our largest company really made its first ever loss? Yes. Fonterra Co-operative Group has announced a $196 million loss … Read more

The forgotten friend: Renewing our Japanese trade ties

With the rise of China, Japan has taken something of a backseat in trade discussions. Lawyer Steven Moe says New Zealand’s relationship with the world’s third largest economy is still going strong, but may need some TLC. Whenever foreign investment or overseas strategies are mentioned in New Zealand boardrooms these days it is most likely … Read more

Adding up the little things: How Callaghan’s Māori team is unearthing the next big Māori business

A review into government innovation agency Callaghan Innovation published last year found weaknesses with its management, but its Māori economy unit was singled out for praise. Rebecca Stevenson caught up with Callaghan’s Hēmi Rolleston to find out how it’s helping Māori entrepreneurs build export-ready businesses. It has a mission that is mammoth. Callaghan Innovation aims … Read more

The problem with the way government backs business in 2017

Incubators, accelerators, grants, tax credits – there are a dizzying array of taxpayer-funded subsidies available for business. But we could make it all simpler and more effective both for government and the businesses we want to target, says technology investor Rowan Simpson. Here in New Zealand, our local market is small so exports are critical … Read more

Are changes to our trade policy a done deal?

New Zealand’s trade policy could be set for a shakeup under the new Labour government. A likely target is investor-state dispute resolution provisions in New Zealand’s free trade agreements, which may go from status quo to status no. Chris Gillies explains why that’s not a good idea.    Investor-state dispute resolution (ISDS) is a dispute … Read more